Tweet
6 September 2011
Last updated at 04:00 ET
Some 1,400 NHS patients are being told they have been seen at surgeries in Kent by a practice nurse who is thought to have been unqualified.
The patients will receive letters on Tuesday, Kent and Medway NHS said.
Kent Police have arrested a 46-year-old woman from mid Wales on suspicion of fraud.
More than 300 women who had smear tests are being offered retests and more than 1,000 patients who had immunisations are being offered additional treatment.
Police said the woman, who now lives in Brecon, worked for more than four years at GP surgeries in Medway.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
'Immediate review' Dr James Thallon, medical co-director for Kent and Medway NHS, said: "We carried out an immediate review to check that the standard of care we expect patients to receive has been maintained.
"Our investigations have not found any problems with the work this person has carried out and there is no reason to believe that there has been any harm to anyone's health.
"As a purely precautionary measure we have written to some patients individually to invite them to be seen again."
He said patients who did not receive a letter did not need to do anything further.
'Healthcare background' Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
Kent Police said the woman worked at four surgeries in Medway between 2006 and 2010.
During her time in the area, her work included chronic disease management, immunisation and cervical smear testing.
She left Medway in 2010 for personal reasons and is no longer working in healthcare, officers said.
Police believe the woman had a background as a healthcare assistant, but gained employment as a registered nurse without the appropriate qualifications.
The force said the GP practices that employed her had no knowledge of any wrongdoing.
The woman was arrested in July, but police had not previously revealed the circumstances of the arrest. She has been bailed until October pending further inquiries.
A statement from the Nursing and Midwifery Council said: "We are extremely concerned that a woman was allegedly practising illegally as a nurse, without having undergone the required education and training necessary to become a registered member of the nursing profession."
The NMC said it was working with the police and NHS trusts to support their investigations.
A helpline has been set up for patients on 0345 602 9904.
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials
The patients will receive letters on Tuesday, Kent and Medway NHS said.
Kent Police have arrested a 46-year-old woman from mid Wales on suspicion of fraud.
More than 300 women who had smear tests are being offered retests and more than 1,000 patients who had immunisations are being offered additional treatment.
Police said the woman, who now lives in Brecon, worked for more than four years at GP surgeries in Medway.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
As a purely precautionary measure we have written to some patients”
End Quote
Dr James Thallon
'Immediate review' Dr James Thallon, medical co-director for Kent and Medway NHS, said: "We carried out an immediate review to check that the standard of care we expect patients to receive has been maintained.
"Our investigations have not found any problems with the work this person has carried out and there is no reason to believe that there has been any harm to anyone's health.
"As a purely precautionary measure we have written to some patients individually to invite them to be seen again."
He said patients who did not receive a letter did not need to do anything further.
'Healthcare background' Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
We are extremely concerned that a woman was allegedly practising illegally as a nurse”
End Quote
Nursing and Midwifery Council
Kent Police said the woman worked at four surgeries in Medway between 2006 and 2010.
During her time in the area, her work included chronic disease management, immunisation and cervical smear testing.
She left Medway in 2010 for personal reasons and is no longer working in healthcare, officers said.
Police believe the woman had a background as a healthcare assistant, but gained employment as a registered nurse without the appropriate qualifications.
The force said the GP practices that employed her had no knowledge of any wrongdoing.
The woman was arrested in July, but police had not previously revealed the circumstances of the arrest. She has been bailed until October pending further inquiries.
A statement from the Nursing and Midwifery Council said: "We are extremely concerned that a woman was allegedly practising illegally as a nurse, without having undergone the required education and training necessary to become a registered member of the nursing profession."
The NMC said it was working with the police and NHS trusts to support their investigations.
A helpline has been set up for patients on 0345 602 9904.
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed | Amazon Plugin | Settlement Statement | WordPress Tutorials